Hoke, Kovacs talk OSU rivalry

The Ohio State-Michigan rivalry has taken a hit the past few years, first by the Wolverine’s decline under Rich Rodriguez and last year by the Buckeyes’ nightmarish 2011 season.

But with Brady Hoke revitalizing Michigan’s program and Urban Meyer’s hiring providing a jolt to Ohio State, the rivalry should be as hot as ever starting this November. One can almost picture Meyer trying to get Hoke in an imaginary headlock to force him to say “Ohio State” instead of “Ohio.”

On today’s Big Ten spring teleconference with Legends Division coaches and players, I asked Hoke what Meyer’s hiring means to the rivalry.

“Obviously you’ve got two storied programs who have a lot of great tradition,” Hoke said. “As far as I know, it’s never been about the coaches. It’s always been about those two schools and that rivalry and the intensity of that whole week when you get ready to play each other. What a great game and a fun game it is to play in and coach in.”

Hoke said he knew Meyer, but they haven’t had a close relationship.

“I don’t know him great,” he said. “But I’ve talked to him on a few different occasions. That is all something that is personal to some degree.”

Michigan senior safety Jordan Kovacs, an Ohio native whose father played for the Wolverines, said he believes the Hoke-Meyer angle will enhance the rivalry.

“It’s going to be great for the rivalry,” Kovacs said. “Two of the best coaches in the nation are coaching these two programs, and obviously they’re recruiting better than anybody in the nation right now.

“It’s historically a great rivalry. It’s going to take that next step and be an elite rivalry these next few years with these two going at it.”

After three dreadful seasons under Rodriguez, the Wolverines were 11-2 in Hoke’s debut season. But Kovacs said Hoke has told the team that last year was a failure because it didn’t win the Big Ten.

Though Ohio State is ineligible to play for the Big Ten title because of NCAA sanctions, November’s game in Columbus could determine Michigan’s fate.

“There are a lot of games to be played before then, but we’ll see where we’re at when we meet at the end of November. But it’s always a big game. It’s the Michigan-Ohio game. It’s a big game every year. We’re really going to be excited about it and can’t wait to get down there.”

Even an Ohio native couldn’t allow himself to say the words “Ohio State.”